Interview Role Play

Overview

Unit Title: Reporting with Zaps!
Lesson Title: Lesson 8 – Interviewing Techniques
Year Group: Year 1 (Ages 5–6)
Class Size: 10 students
Duration: 45 minutes
Curriculum Area: English – Spoken Language
Relevant National Curriculum Objective:

• Pupils should be taught to:
  • listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers,
  • ask relevant questions to extend their understanding and knowledge,
  • use spoken language to develop understanding through imagining and exploring ideas.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will be able to:

• Understand what an interview is and why asking questions is important.
• Identify and practise using simple question stems (e.g. Who? What? Where? Why?).
• Role-play interviews using characters from the book “Zaps and the Talking Newsbug” (assumed book for purposes of unit theme).
• Listen carefully to others and respond appropriately during role-play activity.

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Vocabulary

• Interview
• Question
• Reporter
• Character
• Ask / Answer
• Who / What / Where / Why / When / How

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Resources Required

• Character cards (simple illustrations and names from the class text/book)
• “Interview passes” (laminated lanyards for role-play reporters)
• Question stem flashcards
• Soft toy microphone (or rolled-up paper substitute)
• Whiteboard and marker
• Emotion prompt faces (happy, sad, excited, worried) to support expressive responses
• A “Zap the Newsbug” puppet or printable image
• Printed badges for “Zap’s News Team”

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Differentiation Strategies

• Additional Support: Provide sentence starters for pupils struggling with forming questions. Allow pictorial prompts. Pair with a confident pupil.
• Challenge: Encourage more able pupils to develop open-ended “Why” or “How” questions and vary their voice tone to show excitement or curiosity.

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Lesson Structure

⏰ Starter (5 minutes) – “Mic Check!”

1. Gather class in a circle.
2. Teacher holds the soft toy microphone and says, “We’re going to become reporters today, just like in Zaps and the Talking Newsbug!”
3. Pass the microphone around; each pupil practices saying, “Good afternoon, I’m reporting live!” (develops confidence and fluency).

⏰ Introduction (10 minutes) – What is an Interview?

1. Use whiteboard to display simple definition: “An interview is when we ask someone questions to find out more.”
2. Involve class in short role play:
   • Teacher becomes “Zaps” (fun voice/puppet).
   • Ask: “Can someone be a reporter and ask Zaps one question?”
3. Support pupils in using question stems:
   • Who are you?
   • What do you do?
   • Why are you in the book?
4. Highlight how we listen to answers and respond kindly.

Top Tip for Teachers: Use exaggerated voices and expression – Year 1 loves it! Pretend Zaps gets flustered when asked tricky questions.

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⏰ Main Activity (20 minutes) – Partner Interviews

1. Hand out character cards: each pupil acts as a character from the story (ensure variety).
2. Assign journalists and characters in pairs. One is the reporter; the other is the interviewee.
3. Give out interviewer passes and “Zap’s News Team” badges.
4. Reporters are given a question card with a sentence stem (e.g., “Where do you…?”, “What do you…”).
5. Each pair practises a short interview:
   • One question at a time.
   • Interviewee responds in character.
6. After 3–4 minutes, roles switch.

Extension: More confident learners can ask a follow-up question using “Why?” or “How do you feel when…?”

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⏰ Plenary (10 minutes) – The Newsroom!

1. Create a “press conference” style group sharing activity:
   • 3 pupils sit at the front with their character cards (‘the panel’).
   • Other pupils raise hands to ask a question.
2. Encourage the panel to answer expressively and stay in character.
3. Round off by reflecting:
   • Who asked a really good question today?
   • What’s something new you found out about our story characters?

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Assessment for Learning (AfL)

• Observe: Are pupils using question stems independently?
• Are they listening carefully to answers?
• Do they remain in role and use context from the story?
• Are pupils responding respectfully and clearly?

Teacher Note: Use a clipboard to jot anecdotal evidence for speaking/listening progression.

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Cross-Curricular Opportunities

• PSHE: Turn-taking, showing respect during conversations.
• Drama: Using voice and body language for expression.
• Literacy: Reinforces comprehension by thinking about character motivations and behaviour.

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Homework (Optional/Fun Extension)

Create a mini “News Bug Notebook” at home:

• Pupils interview a family member or pet.
• Write down one question and draw their answer!

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Reflection & Next Steps

Next Lesson (9/15): "Writing the News!" where pupils will turn their interviews into simple written reports using sentence starters and sound mats.

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Teacher’s WOW Moment Idea 🌟

Make small “TV News Studio” zones in your classroom with curtains or boxes turned into cameras. Pupils LOVE role play when spaces feel real. Even use your tablet propped up to 'record', then play it back for a mini newsreel recap!

Let Zaps do a “Live From the Classroom” summary as a puppet to end the unit!

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Created with vibrant imagination and age-appropriate pedagogical strategies – giving teachers a powerful tool to make spoken language sparkle.